In April this year, students of supply teaching lessons were hosted by students of Grammar School Ledina, while on 18 November they returned the visit.
Teachers Nina Levstik and Darinka Avbar Kosovelj accompanied six students of class 2a. On the first day they visited Slatina. They were welcomed by geography teacher Oksana Lunić with her students. Students, members of tourist organisation, represented interesting sights of the rehabilitation area, while students of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian Katarina Jekić and Elena Lunić translated their words into Slovenian. Guests were thrilled about everything they saw and also took a walk to the stone ball. They also tasted traditional food – ćevapi of Banja Luka.
From Slatina they went to Banjaluka. In front of the Association of Slovenians Triglav they were welcomed by our students. They spent the afternoon and evening together and the following day they attended the creative workshop. On the premises where every Saturday there are supply teaching lessons of Slovenian we did not only show our knowledge of the language but we also drew, painted and sewed together. The workshops of decorating linen bags were led by Katja Bevk and Božena Kolman Finžgar from the Library of Anton Tomaž Linhart from Radovljica. Following the workshop students of Secondary Tourist School Sofija Vranješ and Marija Pristaš took us for a tour of Banja Luka.
In the evening, both the guests and hosts attended celebration of St. Martin - Martinovanje, so that students from Ljubljana had the opportunity to see the old ritual – baptising of “young wine”. After the cultural programme including the performance of children folklore group of the Association of Slovenians Triglav, there followed dinner and relaxed party with music. On Sunday, 20 November, there remained time for a stroll in the city while in the afternoon students from Ljubljana went home. Each exchange of students is a possibility to learn languages and get familiar with the culture. There always emerge new friendships and over and again are we aware how similar are goals and wishes of peers, although they do not live in the same country.
Barbara Hanuš